TUI cancels Manchester flights as travel chaos worsens for Britons

The company said it was scrapping six flights a day Tuesday until June 30 in a further hammer blow to long-suffering travellers desperate to go on holiday. It had already cancelled and delayed planes over the weekend due to staff shortages.

Manchester airport also blamed TUI shortages and problems at its ground handler Swissport, which manages its check-in and baggage handling.

“Due to the amount of ongoing disruption in our operation at Manchester airport, we have made the incredibly difficult decision to cancel six flights a day … until Thursday 30 June. All other airports in the UK are planned to operate as normal," TUI said.

“We understand how disappointing this will be for those impacted; however, we believe this is necessary to provide stability and a better customer service.”

TUI was so short staffed local police had to read out a statement from the firm to stranded passengers telling them their holidays had been cancelled and outlining their compensation rights.

Low-cost carrier easyJet and British Airways have also been cancelling flights daily while passengers at major airports across the UK are experiencing long delays due to staff shortages after thousands were let go during the Covid pandemic.

The Prospect union, which represents staff across air traffic control, in airports and in aviation engineering, said things could get worse before they get better.

"Unions warned the government and aviation employers repeatedly that slashing staff through the crisis would lead to problems with the ramp-up post-pandemic," said union deputy general secretary Garry Graham.

This is the moment an officer told TUI passengers their holiday had been cancelled https://t.co/KjH9szbHuB pic.twitter.com/nZqkngWJBe

— Manchester News MEN (@MENnewsdesk) May 31, 2022